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Monday, October 27, 2008

Your Camera Recommendations, Please!

I've had my trusty Canon PowerShot A75 for several years. It's a bit clunky, but I saw no reason to get a new one. Until now. A while back, the LCD display didn't work and it wouldn't take photos. Tapping the camera fixed both symptoms for a while, until tapping was needed again. Now, though, the LCD display won't work even after tapping; I can still take and download photos, but I have to use the viewfinder to position shots. I'm not feeling confident that this will continue to work, though. So I'm finally ready to free some moths by opening my wallet! Since the features important to me* are likely the same as those important to my fellow flower and foliage photographers, please let me know what camera you love and why. Thanks so much in advance!*Point and shoot, good closeup capability, optical zoom of at least 3x, slim camera size. Megapixel resolution not so important.

Garden Girl and Marnie, If I had a lot more money to spend or I was a professional photographer, I'd definitely get a bigger, more feature-based camera. As it is, I hate lugging stuff with me--I don't even tend to carry a purse!--and the basic features will do me.

Nancy, I'm thinking of a Nikon Coolpix, just some reviews aren't so great. But they're pretty colors! Macors are definitely a plus for me; I didn't realize my camera could do it, but it can.

I've got the latest Canon Powershot. Like you I'd like a fancy camera with more features, but I suspect if I did I wouldn't take it with me everywhere like I do the Powershot.

If it's just for blog photos it's fine. And it has a good macro feature for flower close-ups.

YOu asked about Dahlias over at my place. We're supposed to dig them up each year, but being a lazy gardener I give them a nice snuggly thick layer of mulch instead. As they're close to a wall I think this plus the mulch gives them a pretty good protection. I'm approx Zone 8 BTW.

I'm not much help here either since I've never use my LCD, only my viewfinder, prefering larger SLR cameras and interchangeable lenses. My first digital was a Nikon Coolpix Christmas gift and while I enjoyed the ease, exchanged it for a Konica Milolta (no no longer availabe ~ bought out by Sony) which I loved as an introductory camera. Good luck ... there are many great sites for comparison but word of mouth is the best.

Peri (that's you, perennialgardener),Even though my Canon is acting up, I really do like all its features, so I may stick with Canon, though Nikon is the other brand name I'm partial to (based on reviews I've read. I love cnet.com!).

James, Garden Girl also recommends a Sony but I admit I'm a bit prejudiced to prefer long-standing camera-maker brands, not electronics companies who have gotten into the digi camera market. Still, I will definitely check cnet.com for review on Sony cameras. It's not like I can't be won over by facts! ;-)

Veep (that's you, VP!), I do like the Canon overall, and once I figured out it even HAD a macro feature, I'm happy with it! I figured your weather might be warm enough to overwinter dahlias in the ground--lucky you! I'm in zone 5b. (P.S. You're not lazy, you're calm in a crisis!)

Joey, I was not an immediate convert to lining up the shot using the LCD, but found it really helpful, especially when using the macro feature; the camera takes a while to focus properly and in the LCD I can see when the image is crisp. PLus, my eyes aren't the greatest and having a bigger window is nice. That being said, I miraculously captured some cool closeups today through the viewfinder.

I started with a Nikon coolpix, a whopping 2 mp. Then we bought the Panasonic Lumix, which I still use and it is wonderful. It has a Leicia lens that is spectacular. I just got the Canon Xsi which is starting me on the road to DSLR's. And wow they are nice.Jen